Tasco Luminova 578x good?

ron · Post by **ron** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 12:54 am

Hi Airconvent, just curious, what do you think is the prettiest object the budget scope you recommended me can pick up from the night sky?

Post by **Airconvent** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 1:03 am

ron wrote:Hi Airconvent, just curious, what do you think is the prettiest object the budget scope you recommended me can pick up from the night sky?

beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

M7, M6, M15, M13, M42, M31, M45, Jewel Box, to name a few...

check out the other thread on the ETX. if your budget is slightly higher, you can aim for the ETX90 instead...not a bad scope but of course, you need to take into account a tripod/mount has to be purchased separately as well.

rich

ron · Post by **ron** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 1:11 am

(Whispers: those are names of galaxies? Don't flame me I'm not even a newbie yet!)

Will it be able to catch the rings of saturn? I've caught them many years back when I was in jc (shows how old I am now heh) during a visit to Science Centre's observatory and I'm still yearning for another look at it!

harlequin2902 · Post by **harlequin2902** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 3:22 am

Hi Ron,

I'm not embarassed to tell you that I started off with a 60mm "junk" Tasco Refractor myself - and I think I was quite lucky too, because the very first 2 objects I "discovered" with the scope were Saturn and Jupiter (one was just above the other at that time) ! Imagine how thrilled I was at that time, looking at 2 other different worlds floating out there in space ... from the comfort of my room and through the open window with my very first telescope.

We shouldn't write off these humble instruments so easily, afterall, if we were to do a poll here, I can tell you that the results will show that many of the experienced members here also started the same way (or worse !) I personally feel that the reason why most amateur astronomers nowadays are against the idea of beginners going for such scopes is simply because we have been at that level ourselves before, so (like "protective parents" in a way...) we fear that the known and experienced limitations of such scopes may "harm" the enthusiastic beginner by slowly killing off the interest over time. A "waste of money" is the lamest reason to discourage anyone from getting his/her first scope if the person him/herself feels that "yes, this is the time". I'm also not embarassed to tell you that when I bought my Tasco 60mm as a blur newbie, I was ripped off by the store - I paid over S$400 for it. But looking back, I never regretted. Did my first "junk" scope kill off my interest ? Absolutely not. Since that first humble purchase many years back and with the help of other experienced astronomers, I've matured, grown and have owned 5 other scopes along the way.

At the end of the day, what I personally feel is that if you really do *love* Astronomy, it's from inside you and you wouldn't be shaken so easily even because of the limitations of your first humble scope purchase. It's just that important first step to "getting closer" to the wonders of the night sky.

Regards,

ron · Post by **ron** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 5:19 am

Hi Harlequin,

Reading your post makes a to-be newbie feel encouraged.

I shouldn't be embarassed too to say that I'll be totally elated just to see Saturn through the lens of a junk scope (if it can show me Saturn of cos). I've always wanted to own a scope since many years ago but haven't got the chance to.

Can't say I'll persists in the passion for astronomy and go far in it like you guys, but I think I'll never stop appreciating the fact that the universe is simply amazing. Since young I enjoy letting my mind wander off when I stare into the skies during late nights like this. It's like fwah, it's so awe inspiring and I just want to look further than my naked eyes haha!

So I guess getting a 'junk' scope for a start will still be enough to make me happy person afterall, you guys think?

blurblock · Post by **blurblock** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 7:02 am

hmm..... just cross your fingers, your 60mm might not even be a true blue 60mm at all and might not even see saturn.

Just my 2cts.

Post by **weixing** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 10:41 am

Hi,
May be you can save a little longer and get the 70mm package from McGill which cost around S$450 and it come with a EQ1 mount with a Fix Rate RA motor drive. Quite a nice beginner package.

Have a nice day and happy Chinese New Year!!

Post by **acc** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 11:20 am

No doubt many of us ‘oldies’ (me included) started off with a ‘junk’ departmental store scope. That was because we didn’t know better and there aren’t affordable but quality instruments available then. Its commendable that some made the best of a bad situation and managed to see the rings of Saturn and the moons of Jupiter. But nowadays, you can get a good entry-level scope for just a little bit more money. Instead of junk scopes that get, well – junked – once we get a real scope, entry level scopes like the ETX90 or Mak90 can last a life-time as a travel scope even after they have served its purpose as a first-scope. So my sincere advice is not to buy any of those TASCO/Meade Saturn 60mm scopes no matter how tempting their low prices are. There are better ways to do with our hard-earned money.

If budget is really a problem, save up first and attend some of our observing sessions to get ur fix of starlight and get a better idea of the kind of scopes that will suit u best.

Cheers
cc

ron · Post by **ron** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 1:05 pm

Really appreciate all the comments you guys have given me!

I'll be snooping around this forum now on to find out more on what it's like to be an astronomy enthusiast and to look out for any affordable + worthy starter junk scope

Post by **acc** » Fri Jan 30, 2004 7:02 pm

Happy shopping Ron! Do remember to let us know what scope u eventually settle on and your experience with it.

cheers

cc